Miley Cyrus Slams 'Clickbait' Critics After 'Lackluster' Concert Accusations
The pop star, facing backlash for perceived low energy at a recent Hollywood Bowl performance, retorted to what she called "commentary to get clickbait" during her next show.
Miley Cyrus directly addressed criticism of her performance during a recent concert at the Hollywood Bowl, calling negative reviews "clickbait" and expressing her struggles with live performances.
During her second sold-out show on Sunday, Cyrus lashed out at fans and critics who had taken to social media after her Friday concert to complain about her perceived lack of enthusiasm. A frequent critique was that Cyrus held the microphone out to the crowd for them to sing along rather than performing the songs herself.
"I don't know if any of you heard that. That somebody was doing commentary to get clickbait on their video talking about my show on Friday night, but I'm a lot of things, and we're not even going to entertain that," Cyrus said onstage, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Cyrus, who has previously expressed reluctance for extensive touring, admitted that performing live has become difficult for her. "It is hard for me to stand up here and do this show. It does not come as natural as it once did to me before. Because, like all of us, we change, we evolve, we grow, and we find what gets to come with us. What continues to fit," she told the audience.
She insisted that she was "fully present" during the performance. However, later in the show, while performing "Bass Persuades," Cyrus snapped, "Oh, I forgot, I'm supposed to sing every f***ing chorus." She also stated that the reason she wasn't performing energetic routines like "cartwheels" was because she needed to sing live.
Following the Friday concert, several attendees voiced their disappointment online. TikTok influencer Tyler Wells shared a viral review stating he "walked away feeling kind of sad for her" and wished he could have seen her perform when her "heart felt more in it." Erik David, another TikTok influencer, echoed this sentiment, reporting he was "very disappointed" and left before the show concluded.
Music critic Alex Mars noted that Cyrus seemed "detached" during many of her popular hits but praised her live vocals and passion during lesser-known tracks. Cyrus has been open about her performance anxieties, telling British Vogue in 2023 that singing for large crowds lacks connection for her. She has also cited health issues, including Reinke's edema and a vocal cord polyp, as reasons for not touring extensively.
In a separate development, Cyrus's latest album, "Bass Persuades," recently experienced a significant drop on the Billboard 200 chart. After debuting at No. 1, it plummeted to No. 157 in its second week and fell off the charts entirely in its third. This marked the largest fall from the No. 1 position for a female artist in Billboard history, surpassing previous records set by Madonna and Celine Dion.